Reparations for Japanese Americans Incarcerated During World War II: A Journey of Resilience and Advocacy
The history of the United States is marked by many injustices, including the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 was a significant step in repairing the damage done to these communities, but the road to reparations was long and complex. This blog post will explore the reparations given to Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II and contrast it with the ongoing struggle for reparations for black Americans.
The Heart Mountain Relocation Center was one of ten camps that incarcerated 120,000 Japanese Americans in seven states across the country. The conditions in these camps were harsh, with incarcerees living in drafty barracks with little insulation or privacy. Despite these challenges, many Japanese Americans found ways to cope with their situation. For example, Amy Iwasaki Mass learned the concept of gaman, or stoicism in the face of hardship. This helped her to maintain good behavior in the camp, but she also found solace in making friends with other children her age.
After the war ended, the US government held three lotteries for prospective homesteaders, and many Wyoming homesteaders moved into the Heart Mountain barracks. Japanese Americans did not forget the years spent in them, and for many, their wartime experiences continued to affect them long after they were free of barbed wire. Nonetheless, some former incarcerees, such as Mass, became active in the redress movement, which sought to obtain reparations for those who had been interned during World War II.
The Civil Liberties Act of 1988, signed into law by President Reagan, was the culmination of this movement. The act provided reparations and a formal apology to surviving Japanese Americans who had been incarcerated during World War II. However, the passage of this act did not happen overnight. It was the result of years of activism and advocacy by Japanese American organizations and individuals.
The struggle for reparations is ongoing, and many other groups in the United States have not received the compensation they deserve for past injustices. One such group is black Americans, who have suffered from centuries of slavery, segregation, and discrimination.
While some progress has been made in recent years, with the passage of legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, many argue that more needs to be done to address the legacy of racism in America. Calls for reparations for slavery and its aftermath continue to be a contentious issue, with some arguing that it is impossible to make amends for such a profound historical injustice, while others insist that it is a necessary step towards achieving justice and reconciliation.
Gaman. (2023, March 5). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaman_(term)
The National WWII Museum. (2021, May 13). Japanese American Experiences in WWII Electronic Field Trip [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGyJLpJVhZc
M. (2021, August 12). Redress and Reparations for Japanese American Incarceration. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/redress-and-reparations-japanese-american-incarceration
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